On this date in 1816...

On June 29, 1816, Indiana's first state constitution was completed, preparatory to its submission to Congress in petition for statehood. (The Indiana Territory was officially granted statehood by Congress in November; statehood became official December 11 of the same year.)

The 1816 constitution was later thrown out, replaced by one written in 1851 (which still stands)... but Indiana would not have become a state without the government established by the first one, so we'll give it some credit.

So, happy 196th constitutional-establishment anniversary, Hoosiers!

Membership Outing to Indiana History Center

Join us Wednesday, July 11 for a group tour and lunch the Indiana History Center! Meet at the Meeting House (6510 S. Franklin Rd.) at 10AM for carpooling, if desired, or to caravan with the group so we all arrive at one time. Special exhibits on Prohibition, a 1950s Jewish home, the polio vaccine and more will be open at the IHC during our visit. Lunch will be at the museum cafeteria, beside the canal. Admission to the museum will be between $5 and $7, depending on how many people attend (group rates at a discount).

The Franklin Township Civic League has asked us to help promote this upcoming event.  Since you'll already be in town for Old Settlers Day, be sure to stop by and see this amazing photo collection and presentation!

The Franklin Township Civic League is honored to present Dr. Hitwant Sidhu, P.E.D. Please join us for an Open House on Sunday, June 24th from 2:00-4:00pm in the Civic League Community Room, 8822 Southeastern Avenue.

Dr. Sidhu will make a presentation at 2:00pm and would like to invite all former students, coworkers and the entire Franklin Township community to come.

Dr. Sidhu has been a township resident for over 50 years and will be sharing how so many people have touched his life.  He has amassed an awesome collection of signed photographs that will be on display.  Come and find out about the life of this most interesting person!

Fifty-Cent Books Available at Old Settlers Day - June 24

Attention, readers! Among the items to be offered at the Franklin Township Historical Society booth at Old Setters Day June 24 will be a wide variety of books available for just 50 cents each.  The hardbacks and paperbacks will both be this price, and will include mysteries, suspense, novels, non-fiction, inspirational, books on military history, photography and more.

The 50-cent book sale at the street fair has been a fundraiser for the Historical Society for a number of years, but none of this year's books were offered at previous sales; this is an entirely new assortment of used books, collected just this spring.

The Historical Society booth will also be offering yearbooks and coffee-table books, priced individually, and Society memberships will be available at just $10 / year.

The booth will be located on the north side of Southeastern Avenue, east of Dollar General and not far from the Avanti salon.

Save The Date - IHS Outing

Join us July 11 for a membership outing to the Indiana Historical Society in downtown Indianapolis on the canal.  The outing includes lunch.  More info to come!